Why Apple's 7.85-Inch 'iPad Mini' Isn't a 7-Inch Tablet

[CausticPuppy]

I predict it'll be a 7-inch iPod Touch, rather than an iPad.


Wi-Fi only, starting at 8GB, and no Siri.


The iPhone is moving to a 4-inch retina display, and the iPod Touch is moving to a 7-inch (lower res) display. There won't be any device with the current iPhone screen size.

It would make more sense for Apple to differentiate the iPod Touch from the iPhone, rather than split the iPad into two form factors. For some reason I think a 4-inch iPod Touch would be weirder than a 7-inch one.

That way, they are only fragmented to 3 screen sizes (4", 7", 9.7") rather than 4 screen sizes if they keep the current iPod touch around longer (3.5", 4", 7", 9.7")

 

[SiPat]

I am one of those weirdos who completes a 400-page novel each night, every night, 365-nights-a-year. I have a Sony eReader and an iPad. The Sony is the toilet device, the iPad is used at night when the wife wants to sleep and won't allow me to keep any lamps ON.

The beauty of both my devices is the 4:3 format -- on the Sony I read books in portrait mode and on the iPad in 2-page landscape. 16:9 or 16:10 are OK for watching wide-screen video, but if I have to live with black borders, I prefer them on video rather than on ebooks/PDF files.

If Apple does introduce a 7.85" model, I'm going to insist my daughter buys one for her kid, who keeps claiming ownership of my iPad.

 

[nuckinfutz]

I predict it'll be a 7-inch iPod Touch, rather than an iPad.

Not going to happen. iPods are commonly known as music devices. A 7.85 device isn't going to be aimed at playing music.

In marketing terms Apple needs to align this mythical device with what it purports to be its common usage and playing music isn't it hence no iPod.

 

[MareLuce]

I am one of those weirdos who completes a 400-page novel each night, every night, 365-nights-a-year.

!! How ?

 

[shamino]

Not going to happen. iPods are commonly known as music devices. A 7.85 device isn't going to be aimed at playing music.

Most people I know with iPod Touches (including myself) use them as gaming platforms - as a better alternative to a Nintendo DS or PSP.

I still prefer my iPod Classic (or nano, if I don't want to carry around a big unit) and its click-wheel for playing music.

 

[jbimler]

I predict it'll be a 7-inch iPod Touch, rather than an iPad.


Wi-Fi only, starting at 8GB, and no Siri.


The iPhone is moving to a 4-inch retina display, and the iPod Touch is moving to a 7-inch (lower res) display. There won't be any device with the current iPhone screen size.

It would make more sense for Apple to differentiate the iPod Touch from the iPhone, rather than split the iPad into two form factors. For some reason I think a 4-inch iPod Touch would be weirder than a 7-inch one.

That way, they are only fragmented to 3 screen sizes (4", 7", 9.7") rather than 4 screen sizes if they keep the current iPod touch around longer (3.5", 4", 7", 9.7")

So they are going to make a product that most people would consider size wise in the tablet market and slap the ipod brand on it? Doesn't make sense considering people think of ipods as pocket devices. Easier just to call it a pad of some sort.

 

[MareLuce]

why you are comparing your need for a smaller device is a moot point. the ipad wasnt meant to be stuffed in your pocket or jammed in your purse.

If Apple does come out with a Mini, what would you estimate:

Mini quantity of units sold in first year
vs
iPad quantity of units sold in first year

?

 

[CausticPuppy]

Not going to happen. iPods are commonly known as music devices. A 7.85 device isn't going to be aimed at playing music.

The iPod Touch has already changed that. Now they are portable gaming, photos, and video devices. I think a 7-8 inch screen would be the sweet spot for carry-everywhere portable gaming.

 

[G51989]

At the time of when steve said it there was no 7 inch tab that was very good. Im sure they have had a ton of different sizes in the lab. Only time will tell. It will replace the ipod touch.

Apple doesn't care what Steve Jobs might have thought. In case you didn't hear. He's dead.

 

[laxic]

With some trademark innovation software could potentially solve the problem; for example, by making the device with no (or little) bezel a bit wider than necessary, they could have it display a 'dead space' where the user is gripping the tablet, i.e - a black bar, and then just slide the viewport across in order to move the dead space to the other side for holding the device with the other hand. Just needs some good detection algorithm for when a user is gripping the screen rather than interacting with it.

I agree, and think it would be fantastic if apple wrote the algorithm that detected on the screen when I am resting my hand on the display rather than a finger, and would prefer it, too. I think, however, that apple will go the direction of adding touch panels of sorts into the bezel for volume, music, and perhaps game controller control, like in a previous patent: http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/07/apple-patents-idea-for-smart-bezel-touch-area/